Liquid applicator for strand



April 12, 1955 J. F. GREENWALT EIAL 2,705,881

- LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR STRAND Filed May 6, 1952 v INVENTORS. 1.15.56 I". GREENWALT VINCENT 6. Mc GRAW FRANK u. RICHARDSON 4342 (a 2km.

United States Patent LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR- STRAND Jess F. Greenwalt, Roanoke, and Vincent G. McGraw and Frank F. Richardson, Front Royal, Va., assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1952, Serial No. 286,304

6 Claims. (Cl. 63-205) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for applying liquid to a traveling yarn, and particularly to improvements in applicators of the general type described in the Burke Patent No. 2,402,213 for applying a gravity-propelled stream lengthwise of an inclined section of the yarn.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid applicator for running yarn of entirely different structure than that of the prior art devices whereby portions of the improved applicator analogous to portions of said devices not heretofore removable that readily become clogged or fouled may be quickly and easily detached for cleaning or replacement. It is another object to provide an applicator constructed in such a manner as to facilitate the removal of other portions analogous to those heretofore made removable in the prior art devices. It is a further object to construct such a liquid applicator as a single unit or assembly of parts in interlocking relationship which separate readily in accordance with a prescribed procedure. Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following de scription of the invention and the drawing relating thereto in which Figure 1 is a top view of a liquid applicator in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section, taken along line llll of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section of portions of a spinning machine illustrating the relationship of the applicator of Figs. 1 and 2 with the other portions of the machine;

Figure 4 is an end view of a removable feeding element of the applicator;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VV of Fig. l; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of separable portions of the applicator illustrating the joint therebetween.

In brief, the present invention comprises apparatus for applying liquid to a running strand following an inclined path, the apparatus being constituted essentially of a channel or trough-like supporting frame, a single channel member adapted to seat within the passageway of the frame with the lengthwise direction of the channel member extending lengthwise of the passageway, and a liquidfeeding element and a liquid-discharging element connecting with the frame in interlocking relationship with opposite end-portions of the channel member to hold the member to the frame and in liquid-communicating relationship with the elements.

The applicator or device of the present invention is illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprises a frame 4, an elongate channel member 5, an element 6 for feeding liquid into the member 5, and an element 7 for receiving liquid from the member 5 and discharging it from the applicator.

The section of the body portion 9 of the frame adjacent the liquid-receiving end of the member 5 is wider so as to provide ample room for the aperture 14, the element 6, and the enlarged end-portion 21 of the member 5. On the end portion of the frame adjacent the liquiddischarging end of the channel member 5, tapered bosses 23 and 24 protrude from the exterior side surfaces of the body portion 9 of the frame. As shown, the outer surfaces of the bosses and the surfaces of the body portion adjacent thereto are parallel so as to fit within the 2,705,881 Patented Apr. 12, 1955 inner opposing surfaces of the parallel side panels 25 and 26 of the element 7. These inner panel surfaces each have a recess or groove which is contoured, generally complementarily to one of the bosses 23 and 24.

The trough-like body portion 9 of the frame 4 is elongate and has a generally U-shaped cross section taken transversely of its length and is provided with leg portions or extensions 10 and 11 by which the applicator is attached to a wall or frame 12 of a spinning machine as shown in Fig. 3. A portion of the element 6 extends through the aperture 14 of the frame with other portions of the element on the frame seating along the periphery of the aperture.

The applicator is constructed and supported by the wall so that a section of a straight path traversed by a strand 16, in passing between the guide and/or the strand-advancing means, such as the system comprising a pair of godets 17 and 18 and guides 17a and 18a, extends lengthwise through the elongate passageway 19 of the channel member. In the preferable arrangement, the path of the strand is inclined and the channel member and body portion of the frame 4 extend generally parallel to the path so that liquid introduced into the passageway of the channel member will flow rapidly down the passageway countercurrently to the movement of the strand 16. The element 7 is supported rigidly on the frame 4 by the joints as defined by interadjacent relatively slidable surfaces of the bosses 23 and 24 and respective grooves or recesses in the panels 25 and 26. An arrow 28 indicates the direction in which the element 7 is moved relative to the frame 4 to detach the element from the frame. The element is also provided with detents or lugs 29 and 30 along the inner surfaces of the panels 25 and 26, respectively, which lock the member 5 to the frame between the elements 6 and 7 as the result of engagement of the inclined surfaces of the detents which face toward the member; with an end surface of the member at the liquid-discharging end thereof, and extension of a flange 32 of the element 6 into overlapping relationship with the interior surface of the liquid-receiving end portion of the member. The end surface of the member 5 may be engaged, as shown, by a surface 33 of the element 6 which faces lengthwise of the member and toward the adjacent end surface thereof. When the element 7 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 28, the adjacent end-portion of the member 5 is lifted away from the frame. As the element becomes disengaged from the frame, the member may be pulled or slid endwise out of overlapping relationship with the flange 32 and thus the member 5 is removed from the assembly of parts constituting the applicator. When the member 5 is thus removed, the flanged portion of the element 6 tilts forward into the region previously occupied by the member and may then be lifted from the frame in a direction generally normal to the plane of the aperture 14. As shown in Fig. 4, the closed pocket or cupped portion 34 of the element 6 to which a tubular extension 35 is attached is tapered and has a rounded end which tilts backward into the rounded portion of the aperture 14 when the element is removed from the frame 4. The tapered portion of the element thus permits the aperture 14 to be formed with shoulders 14a and 14b which limit the movement of the element 6 away from the member 5 when the applicator is completely assembled.

Extending from the cupped portion 34 of the element 6 is a nozzle or tubular extension 35 for facilitating the attachment of the element to a supply tube 36, the latter being constructed of a flexible material such as fabric-reinforced rubber tubing. The tube extends upwardly to the nozzle 35 from a header or manifold 37 through an aperture in the support extension 11 and through the aperture of a ring-shaped supporting element 38 of the frame 4 to derive lateral support from the frame.

T o minimize abrasion to the yarn, the channel member 5 is preferably the only portion of the applicator which can come into contact with the yarn. Such contact, however, is not essential. With proper alignment, the path of the yarn may extend therethrough without contact of the yarn with the surfaces defining the yarn and liquid trough-shaped passageway of the member, the primary function of the applicator being merely to promote the contact of the liquid with the yarn. As shown, the interior surface of the member 5, i. e., the surface forming the passageway, is U-shaped in cross section. However, since in actual operation considerable contact of the yarn or strand with the member will occur, the member 5 is provided with as smooth an abrasionresistant surface as can be obtained with reasonable cost. A preferred construction is that comprising glass or a glazed ceramic material. Such materials also meet another important requirement, that of corrosion resistance. The frame 4 and the elements 6 and 7 may be constructed of any readily fabricated material, a preferred material being lead. These parts are readily fabricated by casting or lead-burning techniques.

An applicator such as herein described, particularly when used in conjunction with apparatus such as that illustrated in Fig. 3 or other equipment equivalent thereto, has important advantages over the devices found in the prior art. For example, the parts that are most subject to fouling by solid materials which separate from the liquid applied by the applicator to the strand, are readily detachable for cleaning or replacement. It is also advantageous to construct the applicator in such a manner that the portion thereof providing the passageway for the strand may be formed in one piece to avoid the necessity of stocking and handling the greater number of pieces necessary to service a given number of applicators, and to avoid the additional breakage and shipping attendant to the handling of normally frangible pieces when a plurality thereof is used on each applicator.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A liquid applicator for running yarn comprising a channel member having a trough-shaped passageway, a frame for supporting the channel member having means associated therewith for positioning the member in a desired alignment relative to the frame, a liquid-conducting element for feeding liquid into the passageway, and a liquid-conducting element for carrying liquid away from the passageway, said elements being freely movable into a predetermined position of engagement with the frame member, the frame having means associated therewith for restricting the movement of said elements into and out of said positions of engagement with the frame to movement in a direction extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of said passageway in the normal position of the member relative to the frame, each element when disposed in its predetermined position having a portion extending in overlapping relation with an end portion of the member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the passageway, each element having a surface facing toward, and disposed for engaging, the adjacent end surface of the member.

2. A liquid applicator for a running strand comprising an elongate channel member having a trough-shaped passageway, a frame for supporting the channel member having an elongate trough-shaped body portion for receiving the member and holding it in a desired alignment relative to the frame, a liquid conducting element for feeding liquid into the passageway, and a liquidconducting element for carrying liquid away from the passageway, each element being freely movable into positions of engagement with the frame at opposite ends of the member, the frame having means associated therewith for restricting the movement of said elements into and out of said positions of engagement with the frame to movement in a direction extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of said passageway inthe normal position of the member relative to the frame, each element when disposed in its predetermined position having a portion extending in overlapping relation with the adjacent end portion of the member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the passageway, each element having a surface facing toward, and disposed for engaging, the adjacent end surface of the member.

3. A liquid applicator for a running yarn comprising a channel member having an interior surface defining a trough-shaped passageway, a frame having a surface for loosely supporting the channel member and means associated therewith for positioning the member in a desired alignment relative to the frame, a liquid-conducting element for feeding liquid into one end of the passageway, and another element for conducting liquid away from the other end of the passageway, the frame having an aperture extending therethrough in a direction generally normal to said surface of the frame and adjacent the liquid-receiving end of the interior surface of the member for passage through the aperture of a portion of the first-named element, the remainder of the firstnamed element being too large to pass through the aperture and having a flanged portion thereof extending in overlapping relationship with the adjacent end portion of the interior surface of the member, said second-named element having an interior surface thereof extending in overlapping relation with an end portion of the exterior surface of the member the second-named element and the frame having surfaces in slidable interadjacent relationship extending longitudinally in a direction generally normal to said surface of the frame adapting such ele ment to be readily moved in said direction for detachment from other parts of the applicator, each having a surface facing toward the member and disposed for engaging the adjacent end surface thereof.

4. A liquid applicator for a running yarn comprising an elongate channel member having a trough-shaped passageway extending lengthwise thereof, a frame having an elongate surface for supporting the channel member and means for aligning the member with the length thereof disposed lengthwise of the surface, a liquid-conducting element for feeding liquid into one end of the passageway, and another element for conducting liquid away from the other end of the passageway, the frame having an aperture extending therethrough transversely to said surface of the frame adjacent the liquid-receiving end of the member, the first-named element having a larger portion and a smaller portion, said aperture being large enough to receive the smaller portion of the firstnamed element but too small for passage therethrough of the larger portion, the first-named element having a flanged portion extending into overlapping relation with the adjacent end portion of the member when such element is positioned with the larger portion thereof seated along the periphery of said aperture, said secondnamed element extending in overlapping relationship with the liquid discharging end portion of the member, the second-named element and the frame having interadjacent relatively slidable surfaces extending in a direction that is transverse with respect to the longitudinal direction of the member whereby the second-named ele ment may be transferred from a normal position of engagement with the frame to a position in the clear of the other parts of the applicator, each element when disposed in its normal position for securing the member to the frame having a surface facing toward, and disposed for engaging, the adjacent end surface of the member.

5. In combination with a support, a tube for supplying a liquid, and spaced guide means defining a path therebetween for a running strand; a device for applying liquid to the strand along said path comprising a channel member having an interior surface defining a passageway and an exterior surface adapting it to be engaged by a supporting structure, a frame mounted on the support in quickly detachable relation therewith, the frame having an inclined surface facing away from the support for engaging the exterior surface of the channel member whereby the member is supported, means associated with the inclined surface for aligning the member with respect to the frame with its liquid-receiving end disposed above its liquid-discharging end, the frame having an aperture within said surface disposed endwise from the member adjacent the receiving end thereof, an element for feeding liquid into the member having a portion extending through the aperture, said supply tube being connected with said portion of the element along the underside of the frame, said element having a portion too large to pass through the aperture seated along the periphery thereof over said surface of the frame, the latter portion having a flange extending into overlapping relation with the upper end portion of the inner surface of the member, another liquid-conducting element having 6 an interior surface in overlapping relation with the lower 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the frame end portion of the exterior surface of the member, the comprises a body portion and leg portions extending last-named element and the frame having interadjacent therefrom to the support, and the supply tube extends relatively-slidable surfaces extending longitudinally in a lengthwise of the member along the under side of the direction that is transverse with respect to the longitudi- 5 frame through said leg portions. nal direction of the member whereby the last-named element mag be moved from a position securing the mem- References Cited in the file of this patent her to t e frame upwardly to a position in the cear of the other parts of the device, each of said elements UNITED STATES PATENTS having a surface facing toward, and disposed for engag- 10 2,402,313 Burke June 18, 1946 ing, the adjacent end surface of the member. 2,413,413 McDermott Dec. 31, 1946 

